I am slow, and when I mean slow, I mean slow. I can do a 26 sec 50 with fins, but without I come in just under 1:20! I think a big part of it is just taking the fins off and doing a lot of kick sets to learn to feel the water better with my feet. I have a good breaststroke kick so I don't think my problem is an overly weak pair of legs, although they could be in better shape. Also, myankles are fairly flexible as I can point my toes and make my feet bend backwards past an even position with my shins. However, I do think that I need to loosen up my ankles when I kick. I feel like I get more out of my kick for those brief moments when I allow my ankles to snap back and forth with my kick. I think I actually need to relax more to kick faster as weird as that sounds.
I suppose the answer to my question is that I simply need to take of the fins and do kick set after kick set until I learn to feel the water better with my feet and become more efficient.
I've written about kicking in Swim Faster Faster
Kicking fast is the key to swimming fast.
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
You need to
STOP USING FINS
STOP saying and believing you can't kick fast
The big problem is the coach assigns a kick set, the "bad kickers" move to the back of the lane, then proceed to plod through the kick set. (I used to be a bad kicker then I became one of the best kickers on the team.)
Begin by improving your 25 kicking speed
Time yourself for
an all out 25 kick from a dive in streamline position with no board
find out where you are
Then time yourself once a week or every other week
Train and Improve
Start doing sprint kick sets with lots of rest between each fast kick
do sets like:
4 x (3 x 25 swim easy on :45 or 1:00, followed by one 25 FAST kick for time)
YOU'VE really GOT TO GO FOR IT on the fast kick.
Pretend it's a LIFE or DEATH MATTER,
put forth THAT kind of effort.
Pay attention to your times and work on improving them from one week to the next.
(Also do half length sprints,
learn how to:
1) move your feet fast and
2) catch and feel water with your feet )
I swear this WILL WORK
You'll see remarkable improvements in your kick.
Also you might not have that great of a toe point
it helps to stretch your ankles / feet and improve your feet flexibility. generally the more flexible your foot is
the faster you can kick
once you have speed then start working on speed endurance
start doing 50's, 75's and 100's
ALSO Start learning how to use your new and improved kick when you swim, especially swimming.
Come up to Austin some time and I'll work with you in person
or if I ever go down to the coast we can meet at the Aransas Pass pool or where you practice.
Ande
How important are big/long feet in having a great kick?
How important are big/long feet in having a great kick?
GB's Caitlin McClatchey is reputed to be able to kick 100 LCM in 1:10 and I doubt she has particularly big feet, at least not compared to most men, they might be big by women's standards for all I know, but there are a lot of men who can't kick 100 LCM in 1:10.
Had a mini breakthrough with my SDK today. Went 21.06 off the wall. This was the first time I did it with one breath and I think this was the main reason I was able to achieve the faster time. Now with a bit more effort and a dive, a sub 20 doesn't look so difficult anymore.
Syd
Yep. Sucky and horrible it still is, and it may be getting worse. I am going to ask Coach to videotape me next opportunity. I have been working on my kick for 7 months after a decade of irregular attendance. There are several factors: I have one bad knee (no hamstring strength and very limited knee bend) and I have a lot of loose skin on both legs that goes every which way when I kick which makes my hips/legs hurt. Coach has us do a LOT of drills and kicking; usually he caves and puts fins on me as it's hard for the others to pass me when I get "stuck". In college, it seems like I was a passable kicker but that was "then".
When I use the dolphin, swimming or just kicking my big toes almost touch together at all times. My ankles are relaxed and the toes are pointed in. Pidgeon toed the legs are not held tight together but are relaxed. Heels are seperated at times as much as 14 inches.
George, this is something I just discovered this past year. I've also found that a slight inward rotation of the toes during flutter kick adds more drive to the kick. If I had a prior swimming background or a coach, I might have stumbled on this sooner.
